[Archived] Weekly Event Announcements: June 27 - July 3, 2009

For Immediate Release: June 26, 2009

Saturday, June 27- AHS Garden School - Eco-City Principles In Action
The City of Alexandria, in cooperation with the American Horticultural Society (AHS), will host a new Garden School, "Green Garage®: Sustainable and Earth-Friendly Solutions for the Landscape" from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Lee Center, 1108 Jefferson St. Garden School participants will learn about environmentally friendly gardening practices from organic lawn care and water conservation to soil health and creating wildlife habitats. AHS members and City of Alexandria residents receive a registration discount. To register, call 703.768.5700, ext. 132 or visit http://www.ahs.org/events/garden_schools/09/index.html.

Saturday, June 27 – Gadsby’s Volunteer Training
If you love history and have an interest in sharing it with others, then consider volunteering at Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, 134 N. Royal St. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., this training for new volunteers will cover information about the museum and tour techniques. For more information and a volunteer application, interested parties should contact Michele Longo at 703.838.4242 or visit www.gadsbystavern.org.

Saturday, June 27 – African-American Genealogy Workshop
Discover expert techniques for tracing African-American family history at the Alexandria Black History Museum, 902 Wythe St., with “Their Voices Can Be Heard, Part III:  Tracing Kinfolks in the Neighborhood.” From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., join genealogist Char McCargo Bah at a free workshop where she explores differences in urban and rural communities that can help you make key family connections. The featured cases are from Char’s research of descendants of people buried at historic Freedmen’s Cemetery in Alexandria and her independent work in Halifax County. Reservations are requested and can be made by calling 703.838.4356. For more information, please visit www.alexblackhistory.org.

Saturday, June 27 - National HIV Testing Day
The Alexandria Mayor William D. Euille, the City of Alexandria, Alexandria Health Department and Northern Virginia HIV Prevention and Education Committee will host a rally in recognition of National HIV Testing Day. The rally serves as part of the National Association of People With AIDS (NAPWA): “Mayors Against HIV” initiative. The rally will be held at Mt. Vernon Community Recreation Center, 2701 Commonwealth Ave., beginning at 12 p.m. Staff from Alexandria Health Department and members of the Northern Virginia HIV Consortium’s Prevention and Education Committee will provide FREE confidential HIV counseling, testing, and other assistance for the afternoon. For additional information, please contact Nechelle Terrell at (703) 838-4400 ext. 305.

Sunday, June 28 - West End Farmers’ Market 
The public is invited to the West End Farmers’ Market at Ben Brenman Park, 4800 Brenman Park Dr. The West End Farmers’ Market is ongoing and open to the public on Sundays through November 22 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For additional information, visit www.alexandriava.gov/recreation.

Wednesday, July 1 - Upper King Street Fresh Farmers’ Market
The public is invited to the Upper King Street Fresh Farmers’ Market at King Street Gardens Park, 1806 King St., just a few steps from the King Street Metro.  The Upper King Street Fresh Farmers’ Market is ongoing and open Wednesdays through October 28 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. For additional information, visit the Farmers’ Market Online.

Friday, July 3 – Lantern Tours
Tour Gadsby’s Tavern Museum,134 N. Royal St., by candlelight with a costumed guide  to experience the historic tavern and hotel before the advent of electricity. Tour times are 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., and the cost is $5 per person, ages 5 and up. The museum may be closed on some occasions; call 703.838.4242 in advance to verify tour dates.

Coming Soon 

Thursday, July 9 - SOHO Orientation for Volunteers
The Space of Her Own (SOHO) program is an art-based mentoring program for pre-teen girls. The orientation for prospective adult female volunteers who interested in mentoring preteen girls will take place from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Hammond Middle School, 4646 Seminary Rd. Mentors and participants will attend workshops and engage with team-building activities, complete community service, learn life skills and artistic concepts, techniques and processes. This year’s program runs on Thursday evenings throughout the school year. Each mentor commits to a year-long relationship with her mentee, Thursday evening sessions, a weekend spent on a room renovation, and 8 hours of community service with her mentee. For more information, visit www.alexandriava.gov/soho. To be added to the mentor orientation Evite list, send an e-mail to SOHO@alexandriava.gov.

Saturday, July 11 - Living Out Loud™ Workshop 
Living Out Loud is a FREE interactive workshop of simple, yet fun improv comedy games and activities taught by DC Improv’s own Shawn Westfall. Westfall will teach survivors of sexual assault the invaluable life lessons that improv has to offer such as living in the moment, creating trust, and collaborating as a team.  The workshop is being held from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Fairfax Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, VA. The workshop is free. For more information, contact Jen McLish at the Sexual Assault Response and Awareness (SARA) Program at 703.746.5030.

Saturday, July 11 – Annual Alexandria Birthday Celebration
The City of Alexandria will celebrate its 260th and the U.S.A.’s 233rd birthday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Oronoco Bay Park, 100 Madison St., located at the Potomac River between Fairfax, Pendleton, and Madison Streets. In the event of inclement weather, fireworks will be rescheduled for Sunday, July 12 at 9:30 p.m. Admission is free.  For additional information, visit www.alexandriava.gov/recreation.

Ongoing

2009 Summer Camps, Playgrounds & Teen Activities
The Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities offers a variety of summer program opportunities for children and teens ages 3 to 17. Camp opportunities include Recreation Camps (Ages 3-12), Jerome "Buddie" Ford Nature Center Camps (K-6th grade), Summer Programs for Children with Disabilities (Ages 3-17), Summer Playground Camps (Ages 6-12), and Summertime Fun Just-4-Teens. For additional information, visit alexandriava.gov/recreation.

“Living Legends” Exhibition Open Through September 20
The latest class of Living Legends of Alexandria is profiled in an exhibit at The Lyceum, Alexandria’s History Museum, 201 S. Washington St. This photography exhibition, featuring the work of Nina Tisara, celebrates people who have made remarkable contributions to the quality of life in Alexandria. “Living Legends of Alexandria 2008-09” showcases 26 nominees who have worked to improve life in Alexandria. Open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sundays, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. the suggested admission is $2. For more information, please visit www.alexandriahistory.org or call 703.838.4994.

Submit Films for 3rd Annual Alexandria Film Festival
The Third Annual Alexandria Film Festival is soliciting entries from U.S. and international filmmakers. The festival will be held Thursday, September 24 through Sunday, September 27, at the George Washington Memorial Masonic Temple. This year, the Film Festival is partnering with Withoutabox, the film industry’s premier online service platform. To submit your film online, please visit www.withoutabox.com/login/7816. All entries submitted through Withoutabox will receive an additional discount. For more information or to obtain entry forms and submission guidelines, visit www.alexandriafilm.org. For more information, call the Alexandria Commission for the Arts at 703.838.6348 or e-mail aca@alexandriava.gov.

For more information, contact Jennifer Harris, Communications Officer, Office of Communications, at 703.746.3961 or jennifer.harris@alexandriava.gov